Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.
San Francisco, California
The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is one of the best places to go to enjoy classic fine arts. The building is a scale model of the original Palais de la Legion d'Honneur in Paris, France, the seat of the Legion d'Honneur, the higher honor in the order of chivalry. The museum also boasts a breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The museum houses an amazing collection of some of the most representative collection of European Art to be found in the United States, mostly of French origin. There is a nice collection of some of the beautiful sculptures by famed sculptor Auguste Rodin, including a cast of his famous "The Thinker." The Legion of Honor Museum also has a permanent collection that includes representative works by Braque, Picasso, Monet, and Degas.
For the musically inclined, there is an antique symphonic organ on display, that includes four manuals and pedals, seven divisions, 63 ranks, and 4,526 pipes! The organ is commonly considered to be a work of art itself, for its inclusion of a bass drum, several snare drums, a tambourine triangle, and several other instruments. It's pretty much its own orchestra! Check out the museum on Saturdays and Sundays at 4:00pm to catch the organ recital.
The Legion of Honor is located in Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue & Clement Street. Take the whole family on a trip to a museum that will make you feel like you've moved to Paris!
From Legion of Honor Museum - San Francisco, California:
Comprising the de Young in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, we are the largest public arts institution in the City of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in the United States.